Best Bet for UFC 284: Take Volkanovski ML Over Makhachev

• Islam Makhachev is a -400 favorite versus Alexander Volkanovski (+300) at UFC 284 betting sites.
• Volkanovski is a strong bet to pull off the large upset based on his history and past bouts in UFC history between champions.

PERTH, Australia – Two of the most dominant champions in the UFC square up on Saturday night when -400 favorite Islam Makhachev welcomes Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski to the Lightweight Division at UFC 284.

Lightweight Championship Fight Odds for UFC 284

• Islam Makhachev -400
• Alexander Volkanovski +300

Makhachev is a large favorite largely based on the dominance of his win and because is larger than Volkanovski, but it is Volkanovski who has had a stronger career up until this point:

• Islam Makhachev (23-1): 12-fight win streak with one career title fight and victory (beat Charles Oliveira to earn the Lightweight Championship Belt)
• Alexander Volkanovski (25-1): 22-fight win streak with five career title fight victories (all in the Featherweight division)

UFC betting sites do not make Makhachev a -400 based on his personal history, it is the perceived height and weight advantage that he has over Volkanovski that likely makes him a large favorite:

• Islam Makhachev: 5’10” Tall/154.5 Pounds/70.5″ Reach
• Alexander Volkanovski: 5’6″ Tall/144.5 Pounds/71.5″ Reach

Volkanovski is noticeably shorter than Makhachev, but history suggests that simply coming from a lighter division should not make him a 3-1 underdog.

History suggests betting on the underdog Volkanovski with +300 odds is an excellent bet at legal sports betting sites.

Past Champion vs Champion Fights

Alexander Volkanovski comes into the fight against Islam Makhachev toting the Featherweight Title while Makhachev is the present Lightweight Championship holder.

This will mark the seventh-ever fight between at-the-time belt holders from different divisions.

Those past champion vs champion fights suggest that Volkanovski bettors are primed to cash in as the underdog.

Past UFC Champion vs Champion Fights

Those past fights prove that betting on the underdog champion in belt holder vs belt holder matches is consistently the best bet.

The past four underdogs have won when at-the-time champions fight, with Volkanovski in a prime spot to extend that streak to five and payout bets with +300 odds at Bovada.